Flow diversion valve for downtool tool assembly

A method for controlling fluid flow between a first tool and a second tool in a tool string lowered from the surface into a cased wellbore, the cased wellbore having a first wellbore casing and a second wellbore casing of a smaller diameter than the first wellbore casing, the second wellbore casing having an upper end terminating inside the first casing;

• the method comprising:
• flowing a fluid from the surface under pressure to the tool string, the tool string further comprising a valve between a first tool and a second tool, the valve comprising,
• an external housing with upper and lower ends for connecting with and forming part of the tool string, the valve being configured for the fluid from the surface to be received through the upper end of the external housing and to exit the valve through the lower end of the external housing, the valve being further configured to have a plurality of fluid control states, each of the plurality of fluid control states corresponding to a plurality of different rates of fluid flow exiting the lower end of the external housing, the plurality of fluid control states including at least a first control state and a second control state;
• and
• at least one control member, the at least one control member extending beyond an outer diameter of the housing under the influence of a biasing force and being configured to move with respect to the external housing when the valve moves past the upper end of the second wellbore casing, wherein the valve is configured for the movement of the at least one moveable control member to actuate the valve to change the fluid flow existing the lower end of the housing,
• lowering the tool string past the upper end of the second wellbore casing to cause the control member to move and thereby change the valve between the first fluid control state to the second fluid control state.

A downhole tool assembly comprising a plurality of tools connected into a string for lowering into a cased wellbore and configured to be supplied with fluid under pressure, the plurality of tools comprising:

• a first tool,
• a second tool, and
• an externally actuatable valve positioned within the downhole tool assembly between the first and second tools for controlling communication of fluid through the tool assembly to at least the second tool, the externally actuatable valve comprising:
• an external housing with upper and lower ends for connecting with other of the plurality of tools in the tool assembly;
• the externally actuatable valve being configured for fluid to be received through the upper end of the external housing and to exit the valve through the lower end of the external housing, the valve being further configured to have a plurality of fluid control states, each of the plurality of fluid control states corresponding to one of a plurality of different rates of fluid flow exiting the lower end of the external housing, the plurality of fluid control states including at least a first control state and a second control state;
• and
• at least one control member that extends beyond an outer diameter of the tool assembly under the influence of a biasing force, the control member being configured for movement with respect to the outer housing to cause the externally actuatable valve to change the fluid control state of the valves in response to the movement.